Clip for supporting structural members



Dec. 1, 1931. w. REINHOLD CLIP FOR SUPPORTING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed June 4, 1929 gwtxmtoz "IVA 18 Patented Dec. 1, 1931 WILLIAM REINHOLD, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK CLIP FOR SUPPORTING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS .App1i0ation filed June 4, 1929. Seria1 No. 368,275.

This invention relates to a clip for temporarily supportingone horizontal structural member from another horizontal structural member and 'is more particularly intended to be employed inthe'const'ruction of buildings where the structural members are welded together and wherein it is undesirable to use temporary bolts or the like for supporting the structural members preparatory to weld- The principal object of this invention is to provide a clip which can beiquickly applied to a structural joist and its supporting beam after the joist has been hoisted into position in the usual manner and which clip when applied will reliablyhold-the joist in proper position for welding to the supporting beam.

.A further object is to provide such a clip which canbe readily removed after the joist has been welded to its supporting beam, but which cannot become accidentally deranged, which derangement would possibly release the joist temporarily supported and permit it to fall.

Another aim is to provide such a clipwhich operates to draw the joist flush with the supporting beam in the event that this is not effected whenthe beam is hoisted into position.

Still further objects are to provide such a clip which is strong and durable, inexpensive in manufacture, and can be'used on beams and joists of varying proportions, to reduce shop welding costs and to support the joists in such manner that they can be safely walked on before they are welded without danger of the joists rolling or shaking.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a joist sup,- ported from a supporting beam by a clip embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom shown in Fig. 1. p

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Fig.

plan view of the clip lines;

Fig. 4 is afvertical section taken on line 44, Fig.2 andshowing the joist in dotted lines. 60

. Similar reference numbers refer to like parts in each figure.

. The standard construction of steel bearings includes a number of main supporting beams 5 which are connected at their ends to the building columns (not shown) and carry a plurality of joists 6, these joists 6 extending between two of the main supporting beams'5 and being flush with the upper flange of the supporting beam. Considerable difficulty has been encountered in welding such beams together, the principal difficulty being in supporting the joists 6 from the two supporting beams 5 while it is being welded. Heretofore the practice has been to weld some supporting extension to the joists 6 so as to form a shoulder adapted to rest on the supporting beam. Thispractice, however, increases the shop costs to a point where the advantages, in point of cost, of a welded building, are no 7 greater than a riveted construction.

The present invention therefore proposes a removable clip whichis applied to the joist and the" supporting beam after the joist has been hoisted into position and in general comprises a pair of plates which are adjustably connected so as to bem'ovable toward and from one another and are adapted to engage the upper surfaces of the upper flanges of the supporting beam and joist, these plates carrying a plurality of hook bolts which engage the under faces of the upper flanges of both the supporting beam and the joist. These supporting plates 7' and 8 are each preferably of rectangular form and are of such size and proportions as to support the joist 6. U On the under side of each plate adjacent its outer side and spaceda distance from one end iswelded ablock or shoulder 9 In line with this block or shoulder 9 each 90.

of the plates is provided with a pair of openings 10, these openings receiving hook bolts 11. Each of these hook bolts 11 comprises a vertical shank 12 which extends up through the opening 10' in the plates 7 and 8 and is threaded to receive a nut 13 and a lower curved part 14, the horizontal outer end 15 of which is adapted to engage and dig into the under side of the upper flange of the joist 6 when the nut 13 is screwed down against the plate. Each of these hook bolts is preferably made of aha-rdened metal and the end 15 is recessed as indicated at 16.and the rim of this recess sharpened so as to insure a secure engagement of this end with the joist 6.

A similar hook bolt 17 is provided for each plate, this hook bolt 17 extending through the block or shoulder 9 and its lower end being adapted to bite into the under side of the flange of the supporting beam'in the same manner as the hook bolts 11.

The plates 7 and 8 are arranged at opposite sides of the joist 6' and for the purpose of holding these plates together and still permit of the same to be adjustably moved toward and from one another to adapt the clip to joists of varying widths a link 18 is provided, this link being made of a suitable length and having longitudinal slots 19 at its opposite ends. One of the slots 19 receives the shank of the central hook bolt 11 carried by the plate 7 and the other slot receives the shank of the central hook bolt 11 of the plate 8, the nuts of these hook bolts bearing against the upper sides of the link. It is therefore apparent that when the clips are free the link 18 holds the two clips together, but in no way interferes with the application of the clips to a beam and joist, the hook bolts being drawn into place in the same manner as though the link 18 were not provided.

In applying the clip as described the joist -6 is first hoisted into proper position relative to its supporting beam 5. The plates 7 and 8 are then laid on 'theojoist 6 and supporting beam 5 in such manner that the hook bolts can be swung under the upper flanges of these structural members. The plates 7 and 8 are then moved together and arranged so that the blocks or shoulders 9 bear-against the edge of the upper flange of the supporting beam 5, as shown in Fig. 1, and also bear against the opposite edges of, the upper flange of the joist 6. By means of this block or shoulder 9 the plates are properly positioned-and the hook bolts 11 are swung into proper position to engage the under sides of the upper flanges of the joist 6 and the hook bolts 17 and swung-into proper position to engagethe underside of theupper flange of the supporting beam 5. Thenuts of the hook bolts are-then tightenedup so as to draw the curved ends of e'ach hook bolt into firm engagement with the under sides of the upper flanges of the s'tructural members, the sharpened ends of these hook bolts insuring a reliable engagement. The joist 6 so supported can then be welded and the clip thereafter removed by loosening the nuts of the hook bolts so as to release the hook bolts from theirengagement with the structural members and also to permit of the plates 7 and 8 being separated From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides a very simple, light and inexpensive clip for supporting one horizontal structural member from another which when applied is securely attached to both and cannot become accideritally deranged. The clip is also very easily applied and removed and by the provision of the shoulder or block 9 is readily placed in its proper position without particular care on the part of the workman. Both parts of the clip are also held together but are adjustably movable toward and from one another to adapt the clip to joists of varying widths, this adjustment, however, requiring no operations on the part of the person applying or removing the clip. It will also be noted that this clip draws the joist 6 flush with the upper surface of the supporting beam 5 and therefore insures the proper vertical positioning of the joist relative to the supporting beam.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. .A clip for supporting one horizontal structural 'member from another horizontal structural member, comprising a plate adapted to overlay'a part of each of said structural members, a shoulder projecting downwardly from said plate and adapted to engage each of said structural members at the corner formed between them and thereby position the plate with reference to said structural members, and means carried by saidplate for engaging surface of said supported structural member. I '7 2. A clip for supporting one horizontal structural member from another horizontal structural member, comprising a pair of members adapted-to overlay the opposite sides of said supported strueturcl member and also the adjacent parts of said supporting structural member, means carried by each of said last named members for engaging an under surface of said supported structural member and means connecting said last named members but permitting their movement toward and from one another, comprising an independent slotted link secured to one of said members, and a headed projection provided on the other member, said slot receiving the shank of said headed member.

3. A clip for supporting one horizontal structural member from another horizontal structural member, comprising a pair of plates each adapted to overlay one side 'of said supported structural member and also the adjacent parts of said supporting structural member, a plurality of screw fastenings carried by each of said plates and ar ranged to engage each of said structural members and means connecting said plates comprising an independent link having at least one longitudinal slot, said slot receiving the shanks of one screw fastening of each plate whereby said plates are movable toward and from one another. a

In testimony whereof I hereby aifix my signature.

WILLIAM REINHOLD. 

